Sponsoer by :

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Engadget News

Sponsored

Engadget News

Novatel's MiFi 4082 is the WiMAX-capable hotspot the Overdrive has been dreading

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 10:23 AM PST

Sprint's Overdrive from Sierra Wireless has been handling the WiMAX mobile hotspot duties on Sprint for most of this year, but it's been walking that road alone -- Novatel, which took the mobile hotspot concept mainstream with its venerable MiFi line -- has been absent from the 4G race so far, but it looks like that's about to change. We just witnessed a so-called MiFi 4082 earn an FCC filing a few minutes ago, offering both CDMA / EV-DO and WiMAX in a single package, presumably prepping for a launch on Sprint to either replace or supplement the Overdrive. Considering the Overdrive's size, stability, and boot time, another entrant would be more than welcome -- and if Novatel can stuff all these radios into a package no larger or heavier than the original MiFi, we'll submit that they probably have a winner on their hands. Stay tuned for an announcement on this one -- CES, perhaps?

Visualized: Leica's first digital camera

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 10:01 AM PST

In 1996, Deep Blue defeated chess grand-master Garry Kasparov for the first time, Dolly the cloned sheep was born, and digital cameras were still out of the reach of most consumers. This was also the year that Leica released its first digital scanning back, the S1. This bad boy was designed for the company's 35mm R-series lenses (with lens mounts for a number of other manufacturer's optics) and captured 1.4-inch square images. And what did you get for your $21,500? A camera that operated at ISO 50 and produced 48-bit (151Mb) image files with "little if any of the artifacting, blooming, and fringing that continue to plague us to this very day," according to B&H. And as one would expect from Leica, it has a design that inspires significant gadget lust. Hit the source link for plenty more photos.

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: HDTVs and home theater

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 09:21 AM PST

Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.
A brand new HDTV is a gift that can get plenty of use throughout the year, but it's also one of the more expensive items on Santa's list. If you're shopping for the home theater enthusiast who has everything, there's always room in the cabinet for another streamer or demo disc. From 3DTV to network connected to throwback disc-based media, there's a lot of new options on deck for the 2010 holiday season - let's see if we can narrow the list a bit and make sure your gift scores a ten out of ten even if your budget is more like a two.

Stocking stuffers


Roku HD

Nothing brings more smiles than Netflix streaming, and at this price, there should be more than a few to go around. The Roku HD streamer has shrunken in size, while offering even more channels of content, with WiFi built-in, and a multitude of channels including Amazon VOD, Hulu Plus, MLB, NHL and more there's no doubt you'll get the most for your money here.

Key specs: 720p, WiFi, HDMI output

Price: $59.99

For the perfectionist...

Disney World of Wonder Blu-ray - $22.89 and up

They already spent the big dollars on their home theater equipment, but you can make sure they get the most out of it with this disc. Plenty of calibration tools and clear explanations make it a must have for those new, or not-so-new, to the HD lifestyle.

Another option...

Inception Blu-ray - $18 and up

You can't go wrong with a movie, and if they're slipping one Blu-ray out of a stocking this month make sure it's one of the best. Director Chris Nolan delights with high story, picture and audio quality plus enough extras to make repeat watching worthwhile.


Oh, you shouldn't have


LG BD570

Digital delivery is hot sure, but for the highest audio and picture quality and easy content availability we're not ready to ditch discs just yet, and that's where LG's BD570 Blu-ray player comes in. It continues the lines reputation of high quality efforts and includes access to digital streams from Netflix, VUDU, CinemaNow, YouTube and Pandora, plus DLNA browsing to play your own stuff from a connected PC and even DivX TV to watch the Engadget Show. Built in WiFi N and a sale price under two bills put this directly in our sweet spot, and yours.

Key specs: WiFi B/G/N, DTS-HD MA & Dolby TrueHD audio, 1080p, USB host

Price: $165 & up

Another option...



Sony BDP-S570 - $169.99 & up
Sony's Blu-ray deck doesn't have quite the streaming acumen of LG's offering above, but it is seriously speedy and a series of upgrades through the year have added 3D Blu-ray, DLNA and Qriocity to the list of supported features without inflating the pricetag.

For the iLife...

Apple TV - $99

It's a little pricier than Roku's lineup and unless you're already into iTunes, iPad and the like its feature set is somewhat limited, but for just under a hundred its combo of Netflix streaming and easy integration with other Apple products -- and the potential of an app store someday -- make it a no brainer for those so inclined.

And another...


Boxee Box - $199

Our review found it slightly lacking in polish some would expect from the media streamer powerhouse, but for file compatibility and easy access few can match its overall specs. This purchase is a bit of a bet on the future of the Boxee platform, but it'll look even better once the VUDU and Hulu Plus updates arrive.

We can't afford the rent now, can we?


Panasonic TC-P65VT25

When you're spending this kind of money there's no sense in buying anything but the best, and Panasonic's VT25 series plasma HDTVs fit the bill. Reviews peg the set for high quality on 2D and 3D video, and a pack-in of the year's most exclusive demo material doesn't hurt one bit. For the top TV of 2010, look no further than the 65-inch.

Key specs: Plasma, 1080p, Full HD 3D, Infinite Black Panel, Netflix, Pandora, Twitter, Skype

Price: $4,299

Another option...

VIZIO XVT553SV - $1,498 and up

The budget TV maker has come a long way, with its local dimming LED LCD set offering a set of features a mile long while combining a lower price tag than most of the competition with picture quality that earns it entry to the top tier of displays.

And another...




Sony XBR-52HX909 - $3,568

Sony's local dimming LCDs feature 3D readiness and black levels that match or surpass any competition, but we're still blown away by their slick "monolith" design. It's a bit pricey, but consider tilting one of these up on your TV stand for the holidays and adjusting the rest of your room to match the new style.

Dell Venue Pro apparently delayed again, targeting January now (update: Dell 'looking into' delays)

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 09:17 AM PST

We'd been following this story for a few days and holding off on calling it a delay since even the quickest orders weren't expected to arrive in owners' hands until today, but would-be Venue Pro owners now seem to be getting emails directly from Dell that their orders have been officially delayed until early January. The reason for the delay is anybody's guess, but it's an open secret that Dell's been having quality control issues on the Venue Pro through its ODM, Qisda -- and we've already seen issues with WiFi (allegedly a software issue alone), mislabeled batteries, and SIM card registration in the field. We'll be keeping our fingers crossed that some miracle gets the early orders delivered sooner than 2011, because seriously, we can think of a few nerds that would love one of these bad boys in their stockings this year. Launch bugs are a serious bummer, aren't they?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: We've just gotten an official statement from Dell on the matter -- it doesn't really clarify anything, but at least they're acknowledging the situation:
"Dell continually monitors its manufacturing and supply for all its products. We are looking in to potential ship date changes and will issue an update as soon as it's available."

Amazon MP3 app hits BlackBerry phones

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 08:56 AM PST

It may not quite be enough to bring non-BlackBerry users into the fold, but RIM has finally scored one long awaited coup to keep its current users happy -- it's just announced that the Amazon MP3 application is now available for download from the BlackBerry App World. While still technically in beta, the app will let you purchase and download music both over WiFi and over the air, and it includes plenty of BlackBerry-specific functionality, including sharing via BBM in addition to the usual social networking features, and full integration with BlackBerry's Universal Search and Media Library. Hit up the link below for a closer look, or simply download it yourself to try it out first hand -- it is free, after all.

Microsoft lands its largest ever Surface order... from a karaoke bar (video)

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 08:35 AM PST

There's not much to see right now, but it appears that Red MR is well on its way to becoming one of the most advanced (and probably the most amusing) karaoke bars in the world. Ahead of its Hong Kong debut this Saturday, said company has already installed six Surfaces in its two bars, and is aiming to fit more to fill up all 80 rooms -- and that number could go up to 300 in the near future -- once Microsoft has ramped up production. With Red MR's customized software (still under wraps), customers will be able to pick songs, order food, watch TV, and play games on the Surface while listening to a drunk rendition of My Heart Will Go On. Oh, and there'll also be a few Kinects dotted around the bars, but it's not exactly clear whether they'll be in the rooms as well. Anyhow, we'll be flying out to Hong Kong to check it out later this week, so stay tuned. For now, you can watch a demo of the Surface's Liar's Dice game after the break.

Russian Yo hybrid said to offer 67mpg, cost under $15k, gets a billionaire's backing

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 08:13 AM PST

Russian Yo hybrid said to offer 67mpg, cost under $15k, gets a billionaire's backing
Russian entrepreneur Mikhail D. Prokhorov may have big plans for moving the Nets downtown and turning them into the Brooklyn New Yorkers, but another of his big plans will stay a little closer to home. Well, his home anyway. It's the ë, the Cyrillic character "yo," and a funky name for a recently revealed hybrid that has scored the billionaire's support. The ë is a little four-door, four-seater car with a top speed of 80mph and a range of 680 miles, delivered by a hybrid powertrain with two electric motors and a single internal combustion lump. However, unlike the parallel hybrid Prius and the (mostly) series hybrid Volt, both of which rely on expensive and heavy battery packs, the ë will only be able to hold a small charge. Instead the engine, which uses a rotary vane design, will run continuously, spinning a generator and providing the current to turn the wheels. It's an unusual layout for a car, but if it can deliver its supposed 67mpg at its proposed $14,500 MSRP when it's slated to hit the streets of St. Petersburg in 2012, you can call us converts -- and comrades.

Jays flexes its design muscle with svelte a-JAYS Four earbuds

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 07:51 AM PST

Tired of finding every set of decent 'buds only available in the stereotypical white? Hello, beautiful! Jays has just outed its latest set of earbuds, the a-JAYS Four, and it seems that simplicity is the theme here. These guys rely on flat, tangle-free cabling and include an inline three-button remote that's made for use with Apple's iPod, iPhone and iPad. You'll also get five different eartip selections, a handy L-shaped 3.5mm plug, MEMS microphone and a pair of 8.6mm speaker drivers that handle frequencies between 20Hz and 21,000Hz. Regrettably, we've no price or release date to share, but hopefully that'll be cleared up in short order.
a-JAYS Four earbuds

Ridgid Jobsite iPod Radio takes a beating, survives long enough to go on sale (video)

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 07:04 AM PST

So, you've celebrated the landing of yet another construction deal by giving the whole crew their own Motorola Defy (except for Derick, who's saddled with a lowly i365), but there's still one problem: on-the-job entertainment. Enter Ridgid's Jobsite Radio, hailed as the first iPod-toting boombox designed to withstand just about anything. As you can tell, the device itself is encased in a ShockMount layer of protective armor, and we have to stress the "armor" aspect. Users simply flip down the lid in the front, slide their iPod in and then change tracks via on-board external controls or remote control from up to 25 feet away. Oh, and if Joe or Buck just so happens to bring their Zune HD into work, the 3.5mm auxiliary input will ensure that no one is publicly shamed. The unit is powered by a standard 120V or Ridgid 18V battery, and if you're curious as to just how hardcore this thing is, there's an enlightening video embedded just after the break. She's all yours after dropping $149 at the Home Depot.

[Thanks, Thomas]

See more video at our hub!

Shigeru Miyamoto profiled: legendary game designer, interior decorating enthusiast

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 06:42 AM PST

Using traditional conversion metrics, The New Yorker's got ten pictures worth of words on Nintendo's iconic designer Shigeru Miyamoto, arguably the father of modern video games whose cerebral impulses have spawned the likes of Mario and Legend of Zelda. Don't expect any bombshell news (spoiler: the company's hard at work on a portable, glasses-free 3D console), but it's definitely a thorough and entertaining read on the origins of Nintendo's gaming interests and Miyamoto himself. Bonus: given how Miyamoto's non-work time with exercise and gardening became the inspiration for WiiFit and Pikmin, feel free to overanalyze how his fixation with moving around his living room will turn into the next multi-platinum title.

Nook Color getting Android 2.2 and Market in January, current hacks could make it blow up [updated]

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 06:20 AM PST

Nook Color getting Android 2.2 in January, current FroYo and Market hacks could make it blow up
You had to know the hacking community was going to have a field day with the Nook Color -- a $249 Android Tablet hiding behind with a thin e-reader coating. Indeed it didn't take long to get rooted nor for Android 2.2 to get installed on there, but that particular hack comes with an interesting potential side-effect: small-scale thermonuclear explosions. Enabling FroYo requires disabling the device's battery monitoring process, the very one that would be responsible for shutting down the device before the cells start overheating and, ultimately, going critical. Yeah it's unlikely, but it could happen. Meanwhile, another hack has enabled the Android Market, but those instructions begin with a very daunting warning: "Very smart people have failed at this. If the following instructions confuse you, you might want to wait until an easier method has been developed."

And, thankfully, there is a much easier way coming, with Barnes & Noble confirming that Android 2.2 will be officially coming to the Nook Color in January. Yes, Android 2.3 is what's happening, but this is still an exciting upgrade as it will finally also allow access to a traditional Android home screen and even enable the Android Market. In other words, it should work just like an Android tablet, Kindle app and all.

Update: Okay, cancel that order for an asbestos carrying case. One of the developers of the Nook Color root wrote in to let us know that there is a secondary temperature monitor which should keep things below the ignition point. Hack away -- or just wait a month.

[Thanks, Ryan]

OnLive MicroConsole torn down, Marvell Armada found lurking within

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 05:58 AM PST

OnLive MicroConsole torn down, Marvell Armada found lurking within
When Marvell was still teasing its Armada processor company co-founder Sehat Sutardja said it would be showing up in "a new gaming platform" -- but he kinda left us hanging after that. Four months later it's looking like we might have found it. Reader David Fisher was kind enough to tear his OnLive Microconsole down to its requisite bits, spreading them upon his kitchen countertop and exposing the Marvell Armada lurking within. Other specs include 512MB of RAM, an unknown quantity of Samsung ROM, and networking chips also from Marvell. There you have it: another mystery of the world solved thanks to your friend the screwdriver.
OnLive MicroConsole teardown

[Thanks, David]

Nokia to revamp Symbian UI, ship dual-core phones in 2011

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 05:36 AM PST

We don't have any hard details yet, but Computerworld reports that Nokia's planning a busy 2011, with four to five updates to the Symbian UI on tap, as well as dual-core phones. The information comes courtesy of Nokia senior manager Gunther Kottzieper, who gave a presentation at the 2010 Internation Mobile Internet Conference in Beijing earlier today -- a slide labeled "Nokia Symbian 2011 focus areas" indicated that a Q1 Symbian update will include over 50 features, including a more intuitive browser, while second- and third-quarter updates will add "a new look and feel for the user interface, a more flexible home screen, an updatable HTML5 browser and an easier software update experience." A hardware-related slide tipped upcoming 1GHz phones with more graphics memory in the second or third quarter, as well as dual-core phones and something called a "true zoom camera" in late 2011 or early 2012. (We're guessing that means an optical zoom, which would be just wild on a mobile phone.) Ignore this morning's E7 delay and all of that sounds like evidence of renewed focus at Nokia under new management -- and it also sounds like Nokia taking over Symbian development might have lit some serious fires. We're dying to look at these slides ourselves -- we'll keep digging and let you know.

Kinect hack lets you reenact Big piano scene (video)

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 05:14 AM PST


The only limit to the applications Kinect can be put to is imagination. The more of it you have, the more things you can use the peerless Xbox 360 peripheral to achieve. To wit, some eager chaps have put together the Keyboard Anywhere hack, which employs a little Python and the libfreenect library to offer up a piano keyboard on any flat surface of almost any size. You can practice your Mozart concertos on a desk, or, as they so ably demonstrate, imagine yourself as a young Tom Hanks skipping along on the FAO Schwarz floor piano in the movie Big. It's all up to you.

Freebox v6 Revolution set-top box brings calling, TV and gaming together

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 04:53 AM PST

Pay-TV operators have been tossing out "quadruple play" bundles for the better part of three years now, but we dare say that none of 'em have come close to nailing it like this. France's own Free, a well-known ISP in the nation, has just introduced the Freebox v6 Revolution, a newfangled set-top box designed by Philippe Starck and engineered to handle just about all of your home entertainment needs. It's stuffed with 250GB of hard drive space, an internal 802.11n WiFi module, Blu-ray drive, inbuilt web browser and Intel's Atom CE4100 media processor. It also ships with a motion-sensing remote, and in short, it's designed to provide live / streaming television options, internet (fiber or DSL is supported), gaming (via a streaming service similar to OnLive) and at-home calling to boot. Free's also planning to dabble in mobile telephony starting in 2012, hence the plans for a quadruple play offering in the not-too-distant future. We're told that a joystick (presumably for getting your game on) is thrown in, as are a pair of powerline adapters in order to easily network it through your abode's power network. The Revolution is up for pre-order now, and depending on how long you've had your current Free STB, it could cost as little as €59.99 or as much as €119.99. The "basic" Freebox service will run €29.99, and once Free goes mobile in 2012, you can add a mobile line for another €29.99.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Dialog Semiconductor pushes 2D to 3D conversion chip for phones and tablets

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 04:31 AM PST

We'll go ahead and put a lid on your swelling excitement level, most likely with two simple words: "parallax barrier." You see, Dialog Semiconductor's DA8223 is being hailed as the world's first real time 2D to 3D video conversion chip for portable devices, but it requires a parallax barrier display. On the upside, that means that there are no glasses required for viewing, and pretty much any 2D content could be tricked into being 3D for the viewer; the downside, of course, is that it probably won't immerse your senses, overwhelm your eyes or otherwise revolutionize your life. That said, it's still suitable for both tablets and smartphones, and according to the company, it "requires virtually no software development and uses a tiny fraction of the battery and compute power of competing application processor based software-approaches." If all goes well, the chip will be hitting mass production in the latter half of 2011, which gives you right around six months to prepare yourself for the third dimension. On your phone.
Show full PR text
Dialog Semiconductor Enables 3D Experience for Smartphones and Tablet PCs with First 2D to 3D Video Conversion IC

Low power 3D enabled portable devices with instant access to unlimited 3D content and no need for glasses

KIRCHHEIM/TECK, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dialog Semiconductor plc (FWB: DLG), a provider of highly integrated innovative display, audio and power management semiconductor solutions, has announced the DA8223, the world's first real time 2D to 3D video conversion chip for portable devices including Smartphones and Tablet PCs. The device also integrates a parallax barrier screen driver that lets users view 3D content without the need for glasses.

"The DA8223 is the first hardware based 2D-3D conversion technology optimised for portable devices. It requires virtually no software development and uses a tiny fraction of the battery and compute power of competing application processor based software-approaches"

The IC analyses each 2D video frame and creates a layered depth map, isolating foreground and background objects. From this, each original image pixel is mapped into left and right eye pixels that, when viewed through a parallax barrier filter on the display module, renders the 3D image directly. The DA8223 integrates the complete 3D conversion process which means that unlike traditional software-based solutions, there is no extra load on the host application processor and no external memory requirement.

Mark Tyndall, VP corporate development and strategy at Dialog Semiconductor commented: "The demand for a 3D experience on your Smartphone is now here, but very little 3D content currently exists. Using the DA8223 our customers can, without compromising battery life, create a truly unique offering; products with immediate access to unlimited 3D content."

"The DA8223 is the first hardware based 2D-3D conversion technology optimised for portable devices. It requires virtually no software development and uses a tiny fraction of the battery and compute power of competing application processor based software-approaches," added Tyndall.

Supporting still images and video at 60fps, and able to display 3D content in both portrait and landscape formats in real-time, the DA8223 ensures an enriched and very comfortable 3D viewing experience of actual 2D content, even during prolonged use.

The DA8223 is compatible with the widest range of 3D capable displays from 3.8 inch Smartphones up to 10 inch Tablet PCs. It will also work with any display equipped with a parallax barrier filter including OLED and the latest TFT displays from Sharp.

The 5x5mm 81-ball UFBGA chip can be mounted on the PCB, between the application processor and 3D display, or on the display module as a chip-on-flex. Device samples will be available early in 2011, enabling products to be in mass production from the second half of 2011.

Panasonic's Avatar 3D monopoly runs into 2012, no 3D Blu-ray release until Mayan calendar ends?

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 03:57 AM PST

Panasonic's Avatar monopoly extends into 2012, no 3D Blu-ray release until the Mayan calendar ends?
When Panasonic announced it was including copies of Avatar in 3D with its 3DTVs and Blu-ray players, it simply seemed like a great marketing move. Now it's looking like more of a coup, with Panasonic UK confirming that the company's bundle deal runs until February of 2012. That deal is said to be exclusive, likely meaning that will be the only 3D version of Avatar pressed to disc until it runs out, leaving you with two somewhat less than desirable choices for getting a copy: spring for Panasonic hardware or pay a hefty premium on eBay. How hefty? Copies of the 3D Blu-ray version look to be going for $150 and up, and we're guessing things won't be getting much better in the near future.

Nokia delays E7 slider into 'early 2011'

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 03:20 AM PST

Oh dear. Like the N8 before it, Nokia just confirmed to us that the Symbian-powered E7 slider will be delayed. The official word has it launching in early 2011, not December 2010. We've been told that Nokia's holding up production due to a "minor durability issue" discovered in the E7 hardware. We can't blame Nokia for wanting to ensure the best possible user experience -- it's just a shame that it will require the holiday shopping season to sort it out.

Visualized: Facebook's global reach

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 02:55 AM PST

If you've ever wondered what a map drawn entirely of Facebook relationships would look like, wonder no more. A Facebook intern by the name of Paul Butler has put together the above image by feeding in location data for pairs of friends, with the white lights representing cities, towns, and hamlets, and the blue streaks between them identifying relationships linking them. It's fun to see large swathes of Australia and South America devoid of Facebook activity, but check out the bit on the map where Russia and China are supposed to be -- is Facebook the most capitalist social network ever or what? Hit the source link for the full-scale image, it gets prettier the closer you get to it.

[Thanks, Ian]

Pure's Evoke Flow, Oasis Flow and Seista Flow internet radios finally on sale in America

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 02:19 AM PST

Um, misfire? That's exactly what has happened with Pure's lineup of internet radios, which were supposed to ship to the US of A way back in July. Turns out, the crew hit a few snags along the way, but it looks as if the Evoke Flow, Oasis Flow and Seista Flow will still be making it in time for the holidays. The company just announced that the aforesaid trio really, truly is on sale now in America, with all three shipping to eager radio zealots right now. Better still (and possibly to make up for lost time), the outfit is offering a 15 percent discount and free shipping for all orders placed before next Monday. Candidly speaking, we'd expect to see a cadre of successors in just a few weeks as CES kicks off, but if you've got an empty box that needs filled and wrapped...
Show full PR text
PURE's Highly Anticipated Internet-Connected Radios Now Available

PURE Celebrates Market Entry With Promotional Product Pricing

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - December 13, 2010) - In perfect time for the holidays, PURE, the global leader in digital and internet-connected radios, today announced that three of its highly anticipated products are now available for purchase through PURE.com, with the added incentive of a 15% discount and free shipping on all orders placed before December 20, 20101.

Previewed during the company launch at CES 2010, PURE's EVOKE Flow, Oasis Flow and Siesta Flow connected radios transform how consumers access, store, share and interact with audio entertainment such as internet radio, podcasts, FM broadcast and music streamed from a personal computer.

"We are thrilled to offer consumers an easy way to obtain audio content from a variety of sources, with an emphasis on quality of sound and design," said Charles Bellfield, general manager for PURE North America. "Our intuitive home audio devices offer five search fields to help consumers find exactly the content they want from all over the world, according to their preferences. These products are just the beginning of a wide range of solutions we will bring to North America in the months to come that will personalize home entertainment."

EVOKE Flow
Winner of more than 30 awards, PURE's EVOKE Flow was the first truly connected portable radio. Made of the same polished and lacquered wood as a grand piano with a three-inch speaker, the EVOKE Flow delivers stunning sound quality. The optional ChargePAK battery makes this device eminently portable, while inputs for an iPod® and additional speaker customize the user experience. EVOKE Flow is at home in any room in the house -- from the bedroom with its SnoozeHandle™ alarm bar and auto-dimming display, to the family room with its touch-sensitive controls and eye-catching retro design.

Oasis Flow
A stylish weatherproof, splash resistant case, rubber seals and a cast aluminum framework combine to make Oasis Flow the most rugged, internet-connected radio on the market. The perfect radio for anyone who wants to stay connected while working or playing outdoors or in moist environments like the bathroom, Oasis Flow features a built-in rechargeable ChargePAK battery and iPod input for up to 10 hours of continuous portable listening between charges.

Siesta Flow
The connected-consumer's alarm clock, Siesta Flow brings the power of internet radio to the bedside. Small and sleek enough to fit any bedroom space, Siesta Flow also provides access to 365 unique alarm tones -- one for every day of the year. In addition to a large auto-dimming display and touch sensitive controls, there are also four quick-set alarms, a selection of ambient sounds to go to sleep to, plus a unique PowerPort™ for USB accessories such as standard USB chargers for mobile phones, reading lights and bedside fans.

Pricing and availability
The EVOKE Flow, Oasis Flow and Siesta Flow are all currently available for purchase via www.PURE.com/us/store for respective MSRPs of $229, $249 and $109. Additionally as a special offer, PURE will be giving a 15% discount to North American customers that place an order before December 20.

The PURE Lounge
All PURE products have access to PURE's proprietary radio and media portal, the PURE Lounge (www.thelounge.com), enabling users to organize their favorite stations into shared folders and automatically synchronize content choices on both the radio and the online portal. The PURE Lounge also contains content unique to PURE such as PURE Sounds™, a library of tones that set the perfect mood for the listener. A living platform, the PURE Lounge will continue to deliver many more new and exciting features to the North American consumer.

EcoPlus - PURE's commitment to conservation
PURE's radios are developed under the company's EcoPlus promise indicating that environmental impact has been considered in the design, manufacturing and transport of its products. This includes reduced power consumption in both powered and standby modes, conformation to the RoHS standard and environmentally friendly packaging encompassing a minimum of 70% recycled cardboards, a 100% recycled internal pulp tray, and user documentation printed on 100% recycled paper using Soya-based inks.

About PURE US
PURE is the global leader in digital and internet-connected radios. With a radio for every lifestyle, PURE products and services connect consumers to their digital audio content of their choice through innovative design, unmatched performance and ease of use. Every Internet-connected PURE radio includes access to the PURE Lounge, a customized radio and media portal that enables users to personalize their radio content. PURE has the largest dedicated radio development team in the world and the latest innovations from parent company Imagination Technologies PLC. For more information please visit www.PURE.com or email pureUSA@pure.com.

Netflix hiring Facebook Integration engineer

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 01:27 AM PST

Like Netflix? Then get ready to prove it by sharing your film interests with your social network. Netflix is looking to hire a "Facebook Integration -- Engineer / Architect" into its new Social Systems engineering team. According to the open position posted to the Netflix jobs board, the senior web engineer will, "conceive and build the systems that enable Netflix applications and systems to use the social graph to create a more social Netflix experience" Specifically, the ideal new hire should be familiar with Facebook's Open Graph API to build a customer-facing service. It's just a guess, but we'd expect this to ultimately allow Netflix subscribers and wannabes to like, view and filter Netflix offerings based upon their social input and preferences. Interesting, because Netflix abandoned its homegrown Friends feature earlier this year. Guess now we know why.

[Thanks, Eric]

iPad versus Kindle: even the Supreme Court can't decide (video)

Posted: 14 Dec 2010 12:27 AM PST

Supreme Court judges are supposed to be some of the sagest dudes and ladies around, but even they can't agree on which e-reading device is best. Amazon's multimillion-selling Kindle is the weapon of choice for newly appointed Justice Elena Kagan, however old pro Justice Antonin Scalia prefers to battle the bulge of briefs using his iPad. Who will prevail in this titanic struggle? Probably good old paper, actually, as both are said to use their electronic devices as supplements to, rather than replacements for, the old fashioned reading method. See the video revealing these shocking facts after the break.

LG Optimus 2X looks like a dual-core Star, shows off HDMI-out while embarrassing the Galaxy S on video

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 11:12 PM PST

LG has, in the most casual fashion possible, revealed the name of a new smartphone it intends to launch in the Korean market: the Optimus 2X. That brand name was buried deep in a release yesterday about exclusive Ennio Morricone content bundled with the Optimus Mach, though some studious folks have unearthed it and subsequently found YouTube content showing off the handset. Codenamed the SU660, the 2X looks almost identical to the LG Star we handled for ourselves recently, with the only differences being in product code (the Star was dubbed P990) and the button array at the bottom. Looking at the videos after the break, most of the onboard content bears LG's local branding of Cyon, leading us to suspect the 660 is just the Korean variant of the Star. Either way, that LG presser also notes that the Optimus 2X should be launching within the next couple of months -- just in time to take the Nexus S down a notch or two, eh LG?



Angry Birds nets 50 million downloads, still not enough for a three-star rating

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 10:25 PM PST

And yet the pigs go marching on. Rovio's Angry Birds is just over a year old now, and in that time it's racked up 50 million in downloads, with 10 million of those from Android. An impressive number in its own right, and that puts it in a very elite group of gaming franchises that counts Bejeweled (50m) and Legend of Zelda (59m) among its members. (Membership includes fancy jackets and fezzes.) Our guess is that includes the iOS "Lite" version, which does downplay the milestone, but with new versions coming to PC, Mac, and the big three game consoles still on stores shelves -- as well as a sequel -- we doubt that asterisk will matter for long. Watch your ever-propagating back, Tetris.

[Image Credit: Penney Design via Gizmodo]

Slingplayer Mobile for iPhone updated to 2.0 with high quality video streaming and new guide

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 09:22 PM PST

Say hello to the version 2.0 of SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone and iPod Touch devices, which improves over v1.2 and its 3G streaming by adding the high quality video and new program guide features seen in the iPad version. Fortunately, this time Sling hasn't made any of its older hardware obsolete, while taking advantage of the new HQ streams will require a SOLO or PRO-HD box (and minimum 800 kbps WiFi / 500 kbps 3G connection) older Slingboxes will still work, just with lower quality video. Check the screens for a peek at the new look or just head over to iTunes, grab the new version and let us know how it's working out.
SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone 2.0

[Thanks, David]

Best Buy tells the Nexus S retail story: 8AM online sales, two per customer maximum

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 08:35 PM PST

Want a Nexus S this Thursday? Yeah, well, welcome to the club, pal -- you're not alone, so you're going to want to be armed with the right information to figure out your plan of attack. Best Buy has announced the details of how it'll go about selling Samsung's Google-branded monster, and unlike many recent launches, this one is strictly first-come, first-serve -- none of that craziness where you put down $50 in advance to secure your place and get it off the price of the phone on launch day. All stores will be opening at 8AM local time (which is just the normal open time during the holiday season, actually), and online sales will commence at 8AM Eastern Time to coincide with the phone's retail launch on the east coast. You'll be limited to two phones per person -- sorry, eBay scalpers -- and you might want to call ahead or make friends with an employee in the next day or two, because inventory will vary from store to store. What won't vary, though, is demo unit availability: every store that's selling the phone will have a live demo unit to play with while you make your decision. As a refresher, you're looking at $199 on contract, $249.99 with an add-a-line activation, or $529 contract-free; follow the break for the full press release.

Show full PR text
Nexus S Lands in All Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile Stores Dec. 16

In addition to the in-store launch, online sales – via BestBuy.com – begin at 8 a.m. Eastern time.

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 13, 2010 – All Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile specialty stores launch Nexus S in-stores and online at BestBuy.com on Thursday, Dec. 16. Nexus S, from Google and Samsung, is the world's first smart phone with Android 2.3, Gingerbread.

Here are some important details for the launch of Nexus S:

Timing: Online sales of Nexus S begin at 8 a.m. Eastern time to coincide with the opening of Best Buy stores on the East Coast. As a reminder, all Best Buy stores have adjusted their holiday hours to open at 8 a.m.

Availability: Nexus S is available in all Best Buy and Best Mobile specialty stores. Exact inventory will vary by store. Nexus S will be sold out on a first-come, first-serve basis with a limit of 2 per customer.

Demo phones: All Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores will have a Nexus S demo phone on-hand so customers can see and experience the phone.

Pricing: The Nexus S is an unlocked phone and can be purchased without contract for $529. The Nexus S can also be purchased for $199 with a TMobile two-year service agreement and qualifying voice and data plan. Nexus S can also be purchased for $249.99 for add-a-line activations.


As with all smart phones it sells, Best Buy Mobile will have a full assortment of accessories for Nexus S and offers an array of services aimed at improving the mobile phone buying experience, including:

Upgrade Checker: A quick and easy service that gives customers the ability to see when they are eligible for their next phone upgrade. When the upgrade time is nearing, customers receive a complimentary reminder call, e-mail or text message.

Walk Out Working™: Free in-store smart phone setup by a Best Buy Mobile Phone Specialist who will sync personal email accounts, set up Bluetooth headsets, transfer contacts and activate other services to allow the customer to leave the store with a fully functional new smart phone.

Pantech's Verizon LTE modem configured for Mac use, follow along at home

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 06:54 PM PST

At this point, you've got one of two choices for Verizon LTE modems -- the Pantech UML290 and the LG VL600 (which we got) -- and neither work on the Mac. Verizon says OS X compatibility is coming soon, but if you're the impatient sort and happen to possess the Pantech variant, you may be in luck: a member of HowardForums has posted instructions on how to set it up via Network Preferences. Windows is still needed for the initial activation, and there's no promises it'll work with every Apple computer, but if all the stars have aligned just right for you, hey, congrats.

Toshiba building new factory to churn out iPhone LCDs, says Nikkei

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 06:11 PM PST

Word on the street -- and by that we mean a Nikkei Business Daily report -- is that Toshiba's dropping a cool 100 billion yen (around $1.2 billion in US currencies) for a new factory in the Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. Its raison d'être? Low-temperature polysilicon LCD panels, primarily for the iPhone (no indication on which version; Apple is said to be investing in a portion of the factory, as well). Construction begins early next year and production is apparently slated to commence in the second half. More than enough time to stockpile unicorn tears for the assembly line.

Kingston's DataTraveler Mini Fun USB flash drives: they're small and thrilling

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 05:21 PM PST

Tired of lugging around that boring flash drive? Kingston feels your pain, and it's hoping to add a fair amount of "pizazz" and "spice" to your mobile storage needs. One look at the new DataTraveler Mini Fun G2 all but confirms that there's oodles of joviality brimming beneath the colorful plastic, with a trio of hues to choose from (based on model). These guys can also be connected together for kicks and giggles, with 2GB, 4GB and 8GB models available to bring smiles to the faces of those you know and love. Pricing is set for £4.58 ($7.26), £5.04 ($7.99) and £9.00 ($14) from least capacious to most, with no surcharge to be placed on your favorite color -- in other words, bonus fun is provided gratis. Beat that.
Kingston's DataTraveler Mini Fun USB flash drive
Show full PR text
Kingston Digital Launches New Generation of Colourful Mini Fun USB Flash Drives

Second generation DataTraveler Mini Fun is a perfect solution to take everything you want in a fun and mini-sized drive!

Sunbury-on-Thames, 13 December -- Kingston Digital Europe Ltd, an affiliate of Kingston Technology Company Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the new Kingston DataTraveler® Mini Fun Generation 2 (G2) USB Flash drive. The latest Kingston release features great colours, a rubber casing and a miniature size, reviving one of Kingston's favourite designs.

"These multicoloured fun drives can be "snapped" to each other in order to construct different objects and cool shapes. Users can take apart their designs and build something new and creative every day," said Jim Selby, Manager – European Product Marketing, Kingston Digital Europe®. "The versatile Kingston DataTraveler Mini Fun G2 is the perfect storage companion to help store your favourite documents, photos and music in a mini sized drive, it's so small that you can take it anywhere".

The new Kingston DataTraveler Mini Fun G2 features three different colour designs, allowing users to mix and match different sticks. The miniature design and bright colours make the USB flash drive ideal for home, school and travel. The Kingston DataTraveler Mini Fun G2 is available in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB with each capacity offering a different colour combination.

Dell 'Fractal' workstation designs revealed

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 04:42 PM PST

Look, we don't normally get too stoked over workstations, they remind us too much of "work." Also, "stations." Still, a chance to see some unreleased workstations from Dell? That actually look pretty sweet? Sure, we'll go in on that. A tipster found these "Fractal design language" renders just floating helplessly around the internet and forwarded them over. They presumably relate to the upcoming Precision T7600, T5600, and T3600 lines (refreshes for the T7500, T5500, and T3600, respectively). One of Dell's favorite design houses is responsible for the images, but that doesn't necessarily mean the final products will look like this. We also don't know anything about internals, but it seems like a brand new look would fit with those brand new Sandy Bridge chips Intel is about to push out. Oh man, CAD is gonna be so much fun next year.

[Thanks, Stephen F.]
Dell 'Fractal' Precision T7600 designs

Dell 'Fractal' Precision T5600 and T3600 designs

Comcast 'Xcalibur' test program brings web video, unified search to cable boxes

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 04:21 PM PST

There's not a lot of details available yet, but according to the Wall Street Journal, Comcast has begun testing features that rival what Google TV and TiVo are doing in the living room by letting cable set-top boxes access streaming video from the internet. Known to participants in Augusta, Georgia as Spectrum and within the company as Xcalibur it combines a DVR with unified search across cable VOD and the internet, plus social media tie-ins, but does not include a full web browser. So far the available content is described only as "limited," so we're going to guess that Netflix isn't on the menu but with rumors indicating it could launch to other areas in 2011 it could very soon be taking its place as the next Xfinity branded tie-in next to current efforts bringing TV content to iOS , Android and other platforms.

Microsoft to demo new slate PCs, Windows 8 tablet functionality at CES?

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 04:04 PM PST

The CES 2010 Ballmernote has become something of a black mark for Microsoft -- the company's delivered almost nothing in the year after Steve demoed the HP Slate and talked about future Windows 7 Slate PCs -- but as one would assume, Redmond's expected to pick up right where it left off in just a few weeks at CES 2011. According to the New York Times, Microsoft's prepping to explain how it will target the iPad with the help of a number of partners, including Samsung and Dell. While the article is quite vague, it looks like the keynote will include a few new tablet demos, including one of a new Samsung device that sports a "slick" slide out keyboard -- we'd put money on that being the 10.1-inch Gloria. The Times says the Samsung tablet (not to be confused with the Samsung Galaxy Tab) will run some sort of software layer when "the keyboard is hiding and the device is held in portrait mode," but Microsoft's is also reportedly eschewing a central app store for native tablet apps and instead encouraging software companies to build HTML5 -based web apps. That certainly sounds a lot Google's Chrome strategy (and a strategy that could backfire since HTML5 apps will work on Chrome OS devices and iPad equally well), but the Times' source didn't know if these "apps" would be ready for CES as they are "still in production."

As far as we can tell, a lot of this is still built upon Windows 7, but it's also rumored that the Redmond gang will tease Windows 8 on stage -- something that sounds extremely plausible to us, since we've heard from numerous sources that Microsoft's real tablet strategy will rely on Windows 8 and a new all-touch interface that the company has been working incredibly hard on. While Windows 8 isn't due out until the later half of 2011 / early 2012, Ballmer would do well to use his CES time to tell us about Microsoft's "riskiest" product bet and finally do something to address Microsoft's notable absence from the modern tablet market. Of course, nothing's for sure, except for the fact that we'll be there, providing live coverage of the entire thing.

Update: We've been thinking about it (as well as keeping an ear on our chatty Tweeps) and there's also a chance that Microsoft could show off its own Windows 7 software layer for tablets. Either way, we're hoping to get some major answers.

Shocker! Internet use now ties TV in time spent avoiding outdoor activity

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 03:17 PM PST

Despite a huge dropoff in cable subscribers this year, Forrester Research's 40,000-strong survey pegs consumer TV consumption at about 13 hours weekly, same as it ever was. But lo and behold, reported internet use has also risen to 13 hours weekly, a veritable tie to which we naturally reply, "what took it so long?" This number represents a 121 percent uptake in the past five years and attributes its success to multitaskers and those who are spending less time with radio, newspaper, and magazines -- again, nothing too mind-blowing to our perception of reality. If the survey has revealed anything surprise to us, it's that email is only used by 92 percent of those questioned, leaving at least eight percent classically trained in case the post-apocalyptic world of Kevin Costner's The Postman ever becomes reality.

[Image Credit: ICHC]

Afghanistan moves ahead with plans for national electronic ID cards

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 02:44 PM PST

It doesn't appear to involve the biometric IDs that were first proposed by NATO, but the Afghanistan government has just announced plans to issue electronic ID cards to everyone in the country -- an undertaking that it hopes will be complete in five years. That admittedly difficult effort got off to an official start today with the signing of a $101.5 million contract with Afghan company Grand Technology Resources, which will apparently be responsible for producing the wallet-sized cards themselves. In addition to the usual identification, those will each contain a chip that stores the individual's drivers license, vehicle registration, signature and voting registration records -- the latter of which is particularly key, as one of the main reasons for the cards existence is to ensure "fairer, more transparent and efficient" elections in the future.

Chevy Volt starts shipping to customers, most of whom forgot they ordered one last decade

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 02:12 PM PST

Mark it down, folks -- it's a monumental day. In a way, this marks the end of one of the longest running sagas covered at Engadget, but in reality, it's probably the start of something else entirely. Chevrolet's Volt was once the starlet of the electric vehicle universe. And then 2009 happened. In the meanwhile, a smattering of other automakers have moved forward with hybrid and pure electric plans, with Tesla's Roadster heading out to thousands of motorists and Nissan's Leaf shipping to customers earlier this week (just to name a couple). Of course, GM still maintains that the Volt is the "world's first-and-only electric vehicle with extended-range capability," but we're sure a laundry list of rivals would love to argue that point. Regardless of the hurdles and hardships, Chevy has still managed to turn a far-flung concept into reality for around 160 people this week, and a slow but steady trickle of these things should continue for the foreseeable future. If you're wondering if placing an order is right for you, have a look at our most recent test drives.
Show full PR text
Chevrolet Volts Begin Shipping to Dealerships
First Customers Should Get Extended-Range Electric Cars Within Days

2010-12-13

DETROIT – The first Chevrolet Volts left the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant on Monday destined for initial retail launch markets. Customers in California, Texas, Washington D.C. and New York could receive the world's first-and-only electric vehicle with extended-range capability in the next few days.

These are the first of an expected 160 vehicles to be shipped this week.

"Today is a historic milestone for Chevrolet," said Tony DiSalle, Volt marketing director. "We have redefined automotive transportation with the Volt, and soon the first customers will be able to experience gas-free commuting with the freedom to take an extended trip whenever or wherever they want."

The heart of the Volt is its Voltec electric propulsion system, which combines battery-only electric driving with an efficient, gas-powered engine giving the Volt up to 379 total miles of driving before having to recharge the battery or fill up the small gas tank. The Volt is the only mass produced U.S.-built electric vehicle.

Earlier this year, Chevrolet shipped 15 pre-production Volts to technology enthusiasts and electric vehicle advocates whom were the first consumers to experience the Volt every day under real-world conditions during a 90-day vehicle and charging evaluation program.

MotorTrend, Automobile and Green Car Journal each recently selected the Volt as their Car of the Year.

Seagate trots out 2.5-inch 1TB Constellation.2 hard drive, dares you to wear it out

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 01:43 PM PST

Western Digital may have shipped the industry's first 2.5-inch 1TB hard drive, and PureSilicon may have done likewise for the SSD sector, but Seagate is still finding a way to lay claim to a "first" with its newfangled Constellation.2. This here 2.5-incher is hailed as the "first 1TB 2.5-inch enterprise HDD," with it being primed and ready for the insane demands generally found in DAS, NAS, SAN and other nonstop business environments. You'll get 6Gb/s performance, T10 Protection Information (you know, for keeping your scanned travel receipts safe and sound) and 1.4 million hours MTBF. There's a self-encrypting drive option for those who just can't be too careful, and it'll be out and about later this month in capacity choices of 250GB, 500GB, and 1TB. Mum's the word on pricing, but Dell ought to be offering 'em across its enterprise products before the dawn of 2011.
Show full PR text
Seagate Delivers First One Terabyte 2.5-inch Enterprise HDD

Second-generation Constellation.2 family delivers highest capacity enterprise storage with the lowest power consumption in its class; optimized for IT data centers and the cloud

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. - December 13, 2010 - Seagate (NASDAQ:STX) today introduced Constellation.2™, the industry's first 2.5-inch enterprise-class hard drive to reach a record 1TB capacity. The Constellation.2 drive is designed for server storage applications and offers a solid combination of high capacity, leading 6Gb/s performance, superior data integrity, and best-in-class low power consumption.

Seagate reaches a milestone with the industry's first 2.5-inch 1TB enterprise hard drive: Constellation.2

The Constellation.2 drive is designed for system builders and OEMs who want to offer competitive, feature-rich, bulk storage solutions for a sustainable future. The Constellation.2 drive is fit for use in a range of applications in Directed Attached Storage (DAS), Network Attached Storage (NAS) and Storage Area Network (SAN) environments, from small-to-midsized businesses to the largest enterprise data centers storing and hosting data to the cloud.

"Data center managers continue to seek out more efficient storage technologies without sacrificing performance, while still meeting capacity growth requirements," said John Rydning, research director for IDC . "Reaching the 1TB capacity in a small form factor design gives IT managers more options to meet capacity requirements with efficient storage platforms. IDC expects the use of capacity-optimized drives like Seagate's 1TB Constellation.2™ to increase by more than 50% from 2010 to 2014."

The Constellation.2 drive is offered in capacity choices of 250GB, 500GB, and 1TB, and with 6Gb/s SATA or 6Gb/s SAS interface options. Its advanced second-generation design provides improved data integrity with the new T10 Protection Information standard and an increase in reliability (1.4 million hours MTBF). With a Self Encrypting Drive (SED) option, data security is covered throughout the entire drive lifecycle.

"The Constellation.2™ underscores Seagate's commitment to its customers to deliver industry-leading solutions that meet the demands of IT professionals today and tomorrow," said Carla Kennedy, vice president of Product Line Management, Seagate. "With its class-leading reliability, record-breaking capacity, and improvements made along its entire range of features, Constellation.2™ drive is a perfect solution for dense server and storage systems."

"The enhanced capacity and reliability of the Seagate Constellation.2™ drives will help deliver even greater value to Dell's customers focused on their ever-increasing storage needs," said Lewie Newcomb, executive director, Storage Core Technologies, Dell. "The Dell PowerVault storage enclosures and PowerEdge servers are being enabled for even more powerful storage alternatives using these energy-efficient, capacity-optimized, and performance-enhanced 2.5-inch drives."

Dell expects to ship systems with this drive starting in late December.

Seagate Unified Storage architecture delivers long-term business sustainability
Constellation.2 family fits within the Seagate Unified Storage architecture, which converges best-of-breed technologies (Serial Attached SCSI, Small Form Factor and Self-Encrypting Drives) into a foundation for flexible, powerful and simple storage that boosts business and operational efficiency while reducing cost and complexity. Historically, the variety of drive interfaces, form factors and now, security solutions, can add complexity and cost for both IT professionals and OEMs – all which the Seagate Unified Storage architecture model resolves.

Constellation.2 drives are currently shipping to OEMs and the worldwide distribution channel. For more information about the Constellation® family of drives, in addition to Seagate's other enterprise storage solutions, visit www.seagate.com. Visit the Seagate Inside IT Storage blog or follow us on the Seagate Enterprise IT Twitter page for regular updates about enterprise storage.

About Seagate
Seagate is the world leader in hard disk drives and storage solutions.

© 2010 Seagate Technology LLC. All rights reserved. Seagate, Seagate Technology and the Wave logo are registered trademarks of Seagate Technology LLC in the United States and/or other countries. Constellation, Constellation.2 and Unified Storage are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Seagate Technology LLC or one of its affiliated companies in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. When referring to hard drive capacity, one gigabyte, or GB, equals one billion bytes and one terabyte, or TB, equals one trillion bytes. Your computer's operating system may use a different standard of measurement and report a lower capacity. In addition, some of the listed capacity is used for formatting and other functions, and thus will not be available for data storage. The export or re-export of hardware or software containing encryption may be regulated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (for more information, visit www.bis.doc.gov) and controlled for import and use outside of the U.S. Actual data rates may vary depending on operating environment and other factors. Seagate reserves the right to change, without notice, product offerings or specifications.

Google's Zeitgeist report for 2010: America loves the Bieb, already forgot about BP

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 01:19 PM PST

Google recently released its annual Zeitgeist report of hot search terms for the year, and if you ask us, what people aren't searching for is just as interesting as what they are searching for. The climate is going topsy-turvy, oil sources have peaked (or are currently peaking), Afghanistan is a boondoggle, and the season finale of The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret was one of the least satisfying in the history of sitcoms -- but what tops America's primary concerns? That's right: Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Chatroulette, and Apple's iPad. It almost makes us long for 2009, when Michael Jackson and the swine flu were all the rage. Almost.

Latest Boxee Box update lets locally stored content shine, adds 3D compatible UI and more

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 12:53 PM PST

Just a couple of weeks after its Thanksgiving Day refresh, the Boxee Box is getting another update that should hopefully appease users who prefer to stream their own content as opposed to media from internet sources. As seen above, one of the new additions is an option during the initial setup or in the options menu to indicate which source one prefers more. There's also genre filtering and an alphabetical scrollbar for local files as well as the option to hourly scan SMB/UPnP/USB sources, and a settings toggle to make the onscreen display and any subtitles compatible with side-by-side or top/bottom compressed 3D content. Check the blog post for all the details and a long list of bug fixes, according to CEO Avner Ronen we can expect another one before the year is out that will bring improvements to the browsers and new content/apps.

T-Mobile drops the G2 to $50 on contract, really wants you to buy one

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 12:29 PM PST

Pretty self-explanatory really: the T-Mobile G2 is now available to buy for a measly 50 greenbacks from its carrier's online store. It's a web-only deal, but it's sweetened by free overnight delivery for anyone ordering before the 20th of December. So, $50 and two years of your wireless freedom in exchange for a phone capable of exploiting T-Mobile's HSPA+ network and offering an almost stock Android experience? Decisions, decisions.

All Things D posts full Mike Lazaridis video from D: Dive Into Mobile

Posted: 13 Dec 2010 12:08 PM PST

By now you've no doubt heard about Mike Lazaridis' recent appearance at the D: Dive Into Mobile conference, where the RIM co-CEO arrived with his own personal reality distortion field and made statements like the surprising fact that RIM "arguably" invented the smartphone, and that the BlackBerry Torch is actually fast. Don't believe us? Well, thanks to All Things D, you can now watch the complete 40-minute appearance for yourself, which just so happens to also include a fairly lengthy demo of the PlayBook. Check it out after the break.
at 11:40 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

My Blog List